The Corner Store | Ian Moore Architects

Originally constructed in 1869 as a Public House, known as The Moore Park Hotel, it was converted in 1921 to a fruit and vegetable shop with upper level accommodation and in the 1960s to a corner grocery store, which it remained until 2022.

The brief was to convert the 3 storey building to a single 3 bedroom house. Located in a Heritage Conservation Area, the local Council wanted all new work to be clearly differentiated from the original structure.

The original brick facade had broken away from the internal cross walls and was leaning up to 300mm out into the street and required urgent stabilisation by way of a carefully inserted steel portal frame structure, prior to any internal demolition. The later additions from the 1960s and 70s were removed from the rear of the building, all aluminium windows removed and a surviving original timber double hung window and pair of shutters were retained as templates for all original window replacements. Aluminium shopfronts were removed and replaced with new timber framed interpretations of the original.

A new 3 storey, steel framed, rear wing has been constructed, clad in translucent glass blocks. This new rear wing abuts the original facade but is set back slightly to clearly articulate new from old. In order to allow natural light and ventilation to the lower level living areas an internal courtyard has been cut through the original section of the building, with a new steel and timber stair rising alongside the courtyard to the upper level bedroom and a large roof terrace set behind the original parapet.

New Oak flooring is used throughout the upper levels, with terrazzo tiles for the lower level living areas, terraces and bathrooms. Oak veneer is used for the kitchen joinery and the bathrooms are lined in colour back glass.

The house in not air conditioned and relies on natural cross ventilation and ceiling fans, sun shading to all windows and doors, heavily insulated roof and walls, solar panels, electric heat pump hot water, LED lighting, all electric appliances and electric heat pump hydronic underfloor heating and radiators.

Address 480 Bourke Street, Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia
Traditional owners The Gadigal people of the Eora Nation of the land

Architect Ian Moore Architects
Team Ian Moore - Principal Architect
Rocio Mazon - Team Member
Danny Mathis - Team Member
Harrison Stockdale - Team Member
Sophie Wruck - Team Member

Project Completion 11 July 2025
Site Area 145 m2
Gross Floor Area 259 m2
Project Credits Builder - Bright Build Constructions
Structural Engineer - Cantilever Consulting Engineers
Civil Engineer - Stellen Consulting
Landscape Architect - Outdoor Establishments
Heritage Consultant - Zoltan Kovacs Architect
Planning Consultant - KN Planning
Geotechnical Engineer - Assetgeoenviro
Traffic Engineer - Traffix
Building Certifier - Residential Certifying

Photographer Clinton Weaver and Nick Bowers
Stylist Tess Strelein